Chapter 91: [Fairy Tale] He Has a Little Gray Wolf (17)

It was as if the little wolf was speaking to him.

For reasons unknown, Ryder could always understand the look in her eyes.

He glanced around and saw no sign of the Red Hood Knights.

He led Asher behind a tree, then crouched down to gently stroke her head.

Softly, he said, “No. Little wolf, I am… not angry.”

His gaze flickered as he met the little wolf’s eyes; something seemed to cross his mind, and his face suddenly flushed red.

“You… should go back now.”

Just a few steps ahead lay Red Hood Town. Even though the little wolf was not of the wolf clan, Red Hood Town had always been hostile toward wolves. What if they mistook her for one of them?

Asher whimpered softly, nuzzling Ryder’s cheek with great affection.

Only then did she reluctantly leave Ryder’s embrace, heading back into the depths of the forest.

Ryder did not rise until Asher’s figure vanished from view.

He pressed his lips together, and at the corners of his mouth, a smile bloomed—so faint he himself did not notice it.

Not long after Ryder left, Asher’s shadow once again appeared beneath a tree.

She flicked her tail and continued to follow Ryder from a distance.

—

The incident at the Knight’s Shop yesterday had made Ryder resolve never to deliver his goods there again.

For the past few days, the herbs he gathered were simply left in his yard.

Occasionally, a Red Hood Knight would come to his house to buy medicinal plants.

After all, no one else dared gather herbs from the Black Forest.

Since Ryder had stopped supplying the Knight’s Shop, their sales plummeted—his medicines had always been precious, and now they were even rarer.

But there was no helping it; Ryder was stubborn.

Yet, his family’s gold coins were running low, so he had no choice but to carry his basket to the neighboring town to sell his medicines.

Why not leave Red Hood Town altogether?

Because Ryder’s parents had lived and died here.

Moreover, with so few coins left, even if he wanted to leave, he would have to save up first.

And besides, the little wolf lived in the Black Forest.

For now… Ryder had no intention of leaving the little wolf behind.

Since the other town was some distance away, Ryder set out early with his bundle of herbs.

By the time he returned, it was noon.

The Red Hood Knights had just come back from their patrol of the Black Forest.

Ryder happened to encounter Harris once again.

“Daisy! If you have something to say, say it at home. Don’t argue with me out here!”

Harris grabbed Daisy’s slender arm and yanked her roughly to his side.

Daisy was the most beautiful girl in town, and Harris was one of her suitors.

Even though Daisy had clearly rejected him, Harris acted as if he hadn’t heard a word.

The townsfolk simply thought Daisy was being overly fussy—after all, Harris was the bravest of the Red Hood Knights! For her to refuse the bravest knight’s affection was simply ungrateful!

“Let go of me! I have nothing to say to you! I don’t like you!”

Daisy struggled, but her frail frame was no match for the burly Harris.

“Daisy! Don’t be so shameless when I’m being nice to you!”

Ryder happened to be passing along that street. Seeing this, he simply lowered his head, trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible.

The sunlight poured down brilliantly, bathing everyone in its glow.

Ryder’s ash-blond curls shimmered with flecks of light, drawing attention.

Especially those blue-green eyes, which glimmered under the sun like scattered stars.

Harris, still gripping Daisy’s arm, narrowed his eyes at Ryder.

“Well, well! Isn’t this the little mute from our town? Why aren’t you selling your herbs at the Knight’s Shop? Off to another town, are you? You’re nothing but an ungrateful wolf yourself!”

(End of chapter)